Dye applicator



Sept. l5, 1942. A. A. G. HILL 2,296,035

` DYE ,LPPLIGA'IORl Filed July 3l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ill/llll/l/l//l ARTHUR G. HILL IN VENTOR HIS A TTORNE'YS Sept 15, 1942., A, G, H|| l 2,296,035

DYE APPLI CATOR Filed July 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 zum ARTHUR G. HILL IN VENTOR www HIS A TTORNE YS Patented Sept. '15, 1942 UNITED STATE DYE APPLICATOR Arthur G. Hill, Spartanburg, S. C., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Texas Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,727

1 Claim.

`This invention relatesto applicators and more particularly to devices for applying dyes or tinting fluids to fibrous materials. i

In the processing of certain nbrous materials, such, vforfexample, `as rayon, it is frequently desirable to tint din'erent batches of the material being processed with fugitive dyes of different colors for purposes of identincation. In this manner each separate batch of material, tinted with its distinctive color, can at all times be readily identined so long as there is a necessity for such identincation. Thereafter the dye can be readily removed.

It is an object 'of my invention to provide a simple device capable of applying fugitive dyes to nbrous materials in regulated quantities and in a uniform manner. The invention contemplates the provision of an applicator which is simple to install and to operate and the operation of which can be readily synchronized with the operation of the nbre processing apparatus in conjunction with which the applicator is used.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will readily appear as the description thereof progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, and partly in section, of a section of a nbre processing apparatus equipped with my dye applicator;

Figure 2 is a topplan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; r

Figure3 is an enlarged view of my dye applicator in the form in which' it is used in conjunction with nbre processing apparatus;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of my applicator, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a partially sectional view of my applicator taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

For the purpose of illustrating a typical installation of my dye applicator on one well known which are, secured to the opposite sides of the nbre processing lapparatus in any suitable manner. One end of the pipe Il is closed in any appropriate manner while the opposite end connects with a supply line 22 which in turn connects with a sight feed valve 2l by means of which the rate of now of the tinting fluid to the applicator is controlled.

The sight feed valve 24 connects with a housing 26 containing a valve (not shown) which is operated in response to the operation of the nbre processin-g apparatus to control the supply of dye from a reservoir 28 as shown, or to any one of a number of reservoirs containing difierent colored dyes, to which the valve housing 26 V'is or may be connected by a pipe 3U or other necessary piping. 'I'he location of the reservoir with relation to the location of the applicator establishes a dennite hydrostatic pressure at the orince of the sight feed valve and means (not shown) are provided within the reservoir for maintaining a constant operating level of the form of nbre processing apparatus or picker there is shown inthe drawingsv (Figure 1) such an apparatus having a beater chamber ill within which operates a rotating beater I2. Fibrous material, such as rayon, is delivered by means of a conveyor. through feed rolls I6, I6 to the beater chamber Il in which it is operated upon by the beater I2 to separate the fibres from the mass in which they enter the beater chamber.

The dye applicator which constitutes the subject matter of this invention comprises a chambered member or pipe il which is preferably supported at its ends in a horizontal position across the width of and somewhat above the tinting fluid. The valve within the housing 26 is operatively connected with the knock-off arm 32 of the nbre processing apparatus by a cable 34 or other suitable means so that when the arm 32 is actuated to stop the processing apparatus the supply of dye to the applicator is simultaneously cut oil', and when the operation of the processing apparatus is resumed dye is again supplied by gravity to the applicator.

The applicator per se, as already explained, comprises the chambered member or pipe I8. 'Ihe outer wall is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 38 which serves as a receptacle for a longitudinally extending wick 38. `A plurality of holes 40 connect the base of the groove 36 with the inside of the tubular member which,

while the nbre processing apparatus is in operation, is kept nlled with the liquid dye or tinting material to a point above the level of the holes I0. 'Ihe tinting material passes by gravity through the holes and saturates the wick` 38 as long as the required level is maintained in the.

tubular member I8. the wick distributing the tinting material evenly throughout the length of the applicator and also regulating the passage oi dye through the holes 40.

A resilient wiper member 4,2 of a length substantially coextensive with that of the tubular member I8 is attached at one longitudinal edge tothe' tubular-member Inand extends in a direction .tangential thereto. The point of attachment is below the level of the holes 4l so that conveyor or feed apron il by brackets 20, 20 55 the wiper extends downwardly and to the rear of the tubular member I8, as viewed in Figure 1.

, In operation the lower surface of the wiper 42 is in constant contact with the top of the lap of brous material as the latter is moved to the beater chamber lli by the conveyor Il. In operation the reservoir 28 is iilled with th particular dye or tinting material which it is desired to use, and that dye is supplied to the -applicator so long as the nbre processing machinery continues4 to operate, the amount of dye supplied to the applicator being regulated by the sight feed 24. Upon reaching the applicator the dye or tinting material is distributed throughout the length of the tubular member I8 and is maintained at a level above that of the holes 40. As long as this level is maintained the dye passes through the holes and saturates the wick 38 and the excess dye from the wick gravitates downwardly over the lower face of the wiper I2, which is maintained constantly moist with the dye. 'I hus while the libre processing apparatus is in operation and the conveyor Il is feeding brous material to the beater chamber, the iibre is caused to pass under and in contact with the lower face of the wiper I2 and by reason of this wiping engagement between the fibre and the wiper, dye or tinting material is transferred from the wiper to the iibrous material. As the fibre enters the beater chamber l and is acted upon by the beater I2 to separate the fibres from the mass-like form in which they enter the beater chambff, the tinted iibres are separated and mixed with the untinted libres and this mixing' produces a substantially uniform coloring oi.' the entire mass of ilbres. f

Obviously dyes of any desired colors can be used in the reservoir 28, or a series of diiierent reservoirs, each containing a diierent color, can be connected up to the supply line 22 so that any selected color or combination of colors can be supplied to the applicator at will.

Obviously many modications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made `without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claim.

I claim: y

A dye applicator adapted to be disposed above a moving conveyor of iibrous material and comprising a tubular member formed with a longitudinally disposed groove in the outer wall thereof and a plurality of holes connecting the base of said groove with the inside of the tubular member, wicking disposed throughout the length of said groove, a resilient wiper secured to said tubular member in tangential relation thereto at a point below the level of the holes therein and adapted to make wiping contact with the fibrous material on the conveyor, a reservoir from which dye flows by gravity at a predetermined and constam; hydrostatic pressure to the tubular member, and means for regulating the now of the dye to said tubular member.

- ARTHUR G. HILL. 

